Srebotnik beats qualifier, reaches Nordic Light quarters
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Third-seeded Katarina Srebotnik defeated qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Nordic Light Open.
Pavlyuchenkova, a former top-ranked junior from Russia, trailed 4-1 in the second set before reaching 4-4. But Srebotnik, a Slovenian who won the title in 2005, broke back to lead 5-4 and served out the match.
"She played well for a while and I started missing a few shots," Srebotnik said. "She's a very good player, but there's a long way to go from junior tennis."
Srebotnik, ranked 29th, will play either Maria Elena Camerin or Marian Erakovic in the quarterfinals.
Vera Dushevina edged second-seeded Agnes Szavay 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Szavay broke early in both sets but couldn't capitalize. In the opener, the Hungarian had a chance to serve out the set when leading 5-4, but she had two double-faults and made two bad misses with her forehand.
Top-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska also won in straight sets. The defending champion, who beat Dushevina in last year's final, routed Mariya Koryttseva of Ukraine 6-1, 6-1.
Radwanska fell behind 0-40 in the opening game, but the 10th-ranked Pole rallied to win it and was never challenged the rest of the way.
"I'm very pleased with the way I'm playing right now," Radwanska said. "I haven't played a tournament since Wimbledon. I hope to reach the final here because this event is good preparation for the Olympics."
Sixth-seeded Sania Mirza ousted Emilie Loit 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. Mirza's match was moved to Wednesday because she reached the doubles semifinals at a WTA event last weekend in Carson, Calif.
"I felt very tired and jet-lagged and expected a tough match," Mirza said. "It was nice to win in straight sets."
Mirza will play Iveta Benesova in the second round.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
